Marijuana delivery returns, taxes might fall short and more

CannaBiz

With a May 9 court date looming, the dust is far from settled for grower Pritchard Garrett. Despite that, he's reigniting the business that drew the Colorado Springs Police Department's attention in the first place: Billygoatgreen MMJ (641-8980), a marijuana delivery service that, apparently, now is doing it right.

"My driver did something that was illegal, and that will be settled between him and his attorney and a judge at a later date," says Garrett, by way of explaining why he and two others were arrested in February for offering more than the legally allowed free ounce. "But it's not that Billygoatgreen is just some gun-toting, drug-dealing organization. That's far from the truth. ... I'm doing it because it's the only thing that I've ever loved, and it's the only thing that I'm good at."

So, it's back to the original plan: Strict ounce-and-under-contributions in exchange for what the company calls donations. "If the person chooses to hand me money for it, then that's their prerogative," explains Garrett. "If not, that's also their option."

Though no law specifically bans what Billygoatgreen's doing, a spokeswoman for Colorado Attorney General John Suthers has made it clear what his position is. "Distributing marijuana in exchange for suggested donations is a scam to get around the laws against the sale of marijuana," said Carolyn Tyler in a February interview with the Denver Post.

Green shortage

An economic study conducted by Colorado State University's Colorado Futures Center says the taxes on recreational marijuana, as currently being discussed in the Legislature, may bring in around $130 million in the first year, but probably won't be as effective as hoped for.

The study, conducted by Charles Brown and Phyllis Resnick, says a 15 percent excise tax, a special 15 percent sales tax, and an existing 2.9 percent sales tax will bring in $21.7 million, $90.9 million and $17.6 million, respectively. However, the report concludes, "After meeting the obligations for [the Building Excellent Schools Today fund] and funding the regulatory and other public health and safety budget demands, revenue from marijuana taxes will contribute little or nothing to the state's general fund."

• Last week, the Denver Post reported that the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled that off-duty marijuana use by Coloradans is not protected by the Lawful Off-Duty Activities Statute, which, as John Ingold wrote, "says employers can't fire employees for doing legal things off the clock."